Pipe bender and former



(No Model.) v

W. VANDERMAN. PIPE BENDPP. AND PORMBR.

N0.42s,544. PatentedMar.18,189o.

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Y u l .l @5MM-Magi UNITED STATES4 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM VANDERMAN, OF WILLIMANTIC, CON'ECTICUT.

PIPE BENDER AND FORMER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,544, dated March 18, 1890. Application filed May 3l, 1889. Serial I'To. 312,812. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM VANDERMAN, of Willimantic, in the county of Vindham and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe Benders and Formers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, whereby any one skilled in the art can make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a device by means of which pipe composed of thin metal, especially lead of the lighter grades-such, for instance, as are used for waste-pipes-may be bent Without kinking; and my invention also contemplates the making of a device for removing kinks and bends or like defects that are produced in such pipes by handling and transportation.

My invention consists iu a cylinder of elastic and somewhat flexible material provided with a flexible connection, by means of which the device may be inserted into or removed from a pipe; and it further consists in details of the several parts making up the bender'as a whole, and in their combination, as more particularly hereinafter described,and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a side view of a mandrel for use in. bending metallic tubes, with part at one end cut in section to show the construction. Fig. 2 is a vieW in centrai section of a bent pipe, showing the flexible mandrel Within the pipe. Fig. 3 is a detail View, on enlarged scale, of a compound mandrel, partly in section. Fig. 4 is a detail View, in cross-section, of the compound mandrel.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter a. denotes my improved flexible mandrel in its simplest form, which consists of a cylinder of india-rubber or like elastic material of considerable density, but sufficiently flexible to take' a comparatively sharp bend. This is provided, usually, at both ends with some means, as a clampsocket b, embedded in or secured to the end of the cylinder for attach' to the end of the mandrel proper may have a screw-socket, into which the shank of a screweye d may be removably inserted; or it may terminate in a joint or hook or like part, to which the chain or like flexible connection may be attached or secured. To use this mandrel, the end of the chain is dropped into and through a pipe until its end projects from the opposite end of the pipe, and then the mandrel is pulled along the pipe until it reaches the proper position in which a bend is to be made. When the `mandrel is in this latter position, the pipe may be bent into any desired form Without any danger of kinking, splitting, or otherwise injuring the pipe. The mandrel is then readily removed from the pipe by pulling upon the chain or flexible connection or leader.

I have found it of advantage to make a sort of compound mandrel by using the same dense cylinder as a core or filling-piece for an elas tic tube e, of india-rubber, and' such tube is also used with other kinds of flexible fillingas, for instance, sand or Water-the ends .of the tube being closed and provided Withdepressions for attaching a chain or like leader or feature for pulling the mandrel into and out of a pipe. In case the rubber core a is use d, a clamp is attached to the end of the mandrel, and the elastic tube is slipped upon the mandrel, to which it is securely clamped at its opposite end. This special compound mandrel consisting of a core of elastic material of considerable density, with the flexible cover of greater elasticity, is the preferred form for some kinds of Work; but my invention is not limited to this special form of compound mandrel. One main advantage of the latter form of mandrel is that in using a single core of a standard size-as, for instance, three-fourths of an inch in diameter-and making the tubular covers of any thickness, varying by eighths of an inch, a single core for about the smallest size of pipe may be made to serve for all succeeding sizes by the simple addition of the tubular cover of suitable thickness to make up the required di" diminishes it somewhat in diameter,and aids in the removal of the mandrel from the pipe.

The chain or leader is provided, preferably,

at the outer end With a spindle f,that is provided with a removable cap f at the end, and on this spindle is strung a former that may be globular, cylindrical, or tapered in form, the only essential feature being that it vshall be circular or round in cross-section at `the Widest part, and such former is used 'to straighten pipe and remove kinks or like in- 'dentations or defects that are sometimes present in pipes owing to carelessness in handling or shipment, and such formers maybe attached to the leader in advance of the bender, so that all such kinks are removed in advance of the mandrel, and the latter may then be brought to the proper' position in the'pipe Where the bend is to be formed. f Iv claim as my invention-d l. In combination in a mandrel for use in bending metallic pipes, a exible and lelastic core or filling piece on which a cover is snugly itted, an india-rubber covering fitted on the core, and a chain or cord attached to the end of the mandrel, all substantially as described. 2. In a device for use in bending pipes, in lcombination with a'cylindrical core of indiarubber provided at theen'd with a clampsaid core, and a cord or chain secured to the. free end of the elastic covering, all substantially as described.

3. yIn a device for use in bending pipes, in combination, an elastic iiexible cylinder, a chain or like flexible part connected to said cylinder and terminating in a spindle, and a former round in cross-section andn borne on the spindle, all substantially as described.

4. In a device for use in bending pipes, in combination, a cylindrical core of india-rubber or like elastic material, the clamp-sockets secured to the opposite ends of said core, the clamps adj ustably secured to said core-pieces, the elastic core-cover composed of india-rubber or like gu1n,'vvitl1 the end adapted tov be secured to the core by means of theclamp, the flexible chains or like connections attached to the clamp, and the pipe-forlners connected to said chains and being annular in cross-sec- Ition, all substantially as described.

VILLIAM VANDERMAN.

Witnesses:

JNO. L. HUNTER, CLITUs l-I. KING. 

